Throughout the Hoodoo section of Mules and Men we see repeated references to the number three – papers cut into three parts, the third chapter of Job, actions being performed three times, and so forth. In mythology and religion, we see the father/son/holy ghost; the three wishes granted by genies; the Greeks’ three furies…in children’s literature we have the three little pigs, Goldilocks and the three bears…
Why? What’s so significant about this number?
Wikipedia suggests that the number three is one that represents unnaturalness—indeed, humans have two arms, eyes, etc., and most animals have things that occur in pairs. Three is “not right.” Others, however, argue that three is an indication of something being “real.” Grammar tends to have three persons, time is divided into three concepts (past/present/future), or three “degrees of comparison” (less than, equal to, more than). ¹
So why the number three in Hoodoo?
Perhaps the implication of balance. With two, you get the extremes – say, hot and cold. With three, you get something in the middle – warm/cool. This middle acts as a mediator. In the Hoodoo traditions outlined by Hurston, there seems to be many instances where what is needed IS a mediator. Two neighbors disagree on something? A neutral outside party would be best to oversee that, and this is represented by the three. For example, the Formulae of Hoodoo Doctors contains spells “To Make a Man Come Home” or “To Break Up a Love Affair.” These spells contain references to the number three—or nine, which is a trinity of threes.
The third dimension - we do things in threes so they will manifest in our physical realm.
It's roots stem from the meaning of multiplicity. Creative power; growth. Three is a moving forward of energy, overcoming duality, expression, manifestation and synthesis. Three is the first number to which the meaning "all" was given. It is The Triad, being the number of the whole as it contains the beginning, a middle and an end.
The power of three is universal and is the tripartide nature of the world as heaven, earth, and waters. It is human as body, soul and spirit. Notice the distinction that soul and spirit are not the same. They are not. Three is birth, life, death. It is the beginning, middle and end. Three is a complete cycle unto itself. It is past, present, future.
The symbol of three is the triangle. Three interwoven circles or triangles can represent the indissoluble unity of the three persons of the trinity. Others symbols using three are: trident, fleur-de-lis, trefoil, trisula, thunderbolt, and trigrams.
The astral or emotional body stays connected to the physically body for three days after death. There is scientific evidence that the brain, even when all other systems are failing takes three days to register complete shutdown.
There are 3 phases to the moon. Lunar animals are often depicted as 3 legged.
Three is the heavenly number, representing soul, as four represents body. Together the two equal seven (3+4=7 ) and form the sacred hebdomad. The 3x4=12 representing the signs of the Zodiac and months of the year.
Pythagorean three means completion.
There are three wishes, genies have three wishes, three leprecons, three prince or princesses, three witches, three weird sisters among others.
Evil Evil Number 3
Throughout the Hoodoo section of Mules and Men we see repeated references to the number three – papers cut into three parts, the third chapter of Job, actions being performed three times, and so forth. In mythology and religion, we see the father/son/holy ghost; the three wishes granted by genies; the Greeks’ three furies…in children’s literature we have the three little pigs, Goldilocks and the three bears…
Why? What’s so significant about this number?
Wikipedia suggests that the number three is one that represents unnaturalness—indeed, humans have two arms, eyes, etc., and most animals have things that occur in pairs. Three is “not right.” Others, however, argue that three is an indication of something being “real.” Grammar tends to have three persons, time is divided into three concepts (past/present/future), or three “degrees of comparison” (less than, equal to, more than). ¹
So why the number three in Hoodoo?
Perhaps the implication of balance. With two, you get the extremes – say, hot and cold. With three, you get something in the middle – warm/cool. This middle acts as a mediator. In the Hoodoo traditions outlined by Hurston, there seems to be many instances where what is needed IS a mediator. Two neighbors disagree on something? A neutral outside party would be best to oversee that, and this is represented by the three. For example, the Formulae of Hoodoo Doctors contains spells “To Make a Man Come Home” or “To Break Up a Love Affair.” These spells contain references to the number three—or nine, which is a trinity of threes.
The Meaning of the Number Three (3)
(From: http://www.crystalinks.com/numerology2.html)The third dimension - we do things in threes so they will manifest in our physical realm.
It's roots stem from the meaning of multiplicity. Creative power; growth. Three is a moving forward of energy, overcoming duality, expression, manifestation and synthesis. Three is the first number to which the meaning "all" was given. It is The Triad, being the number of the whole as it contains the beginning, a middle and an end.
The power of three is universal and is the tripartide nature of the world as heaven, earth, and waters. It is human as body, soul and spirit. Notice the distinction that soul and spirit are not the same. They are not. Three is birth, life, death. It is the beginning, middle and end. Three is a complete cycle unto itself. It is past, present, future.
The symbol of three is the triangle. Three interwoven circles or triangles can represent the indissoluble unity of the three persons of the trinity. Others symbols using three are: trident, fleur-de-lis, trefoil, trisula, thunderbolt, and trigrams.
The astral or emotional body stays connected to the physically body for three days after death. There is scientific evidence that the brain, even when all other systems are failing takes three days to register complete shutdown.
There are 3 phases to the moon. Lunar animals are often depicted as 3 legged.
Three is the heavenly number, representing soul, as four represents body. Together the two equal seven (3+4=7 ) and form the sacred hebdomad. The 3x4=12 representing the signs of the Zodiac and months of the year.
Pythagorean three means completion.
There are three wishes, genies have three wishes, three leprecons, three prince or princesses, three witches, three weird sisters among others.
Resources
Watch Britney Spears New Single "3"